Founded in 1955 by Gregg Smith, The Gregg Smith Singers have made over 35 US and a dozen European tours, and their recordings have won 3 Grammys and two Montreux Awards. Here the Singers perform the eclectic work of American composer Edwin London. Belonging to no particular school, Edwin's music is alternatively experimental and traditional, it is invariably deeply musical and beautiful. Often theatrical, sometimes literary, occasionally humorous (for instance the composed-out hiccups in the second movement of Jove's Nectar), London's music follows his own path. The surrealistic song titles give us a taste of the composer's unconventional mindset: 'Celia's Hiccups,' 'Canon for Dizzy,' 'Dr. Lassus,' 'Fanfaronnada' and 'Bach (Again).' There is some orchestra accompaniment on 'Dirge with Bells,' strings on 'Moon Sound Zone,' and kazoo and strings on 'Psalm of These Days I.' All in all, 'Jove's Nectar' is some of the most out-there, and interesting, choral music we've heard!

The 17 men and women of the Gregg Smith Singers, directed by Gregg, perform a piece written by New York City composer Wm. Duckworth, who was affected by 'shaped note' (helping the congregation learn the tune by making the notes square, round, triangular and diamond-shaped) singing in rural churches. 'Southern' is based on an 1854 hymn collection of the same name, and it is a parody in the ancient sense, not humorous, but a rewriting, paraphrase and commentary on the material. There are 20 songs here, divided into four books: 'Consolation,' 'Wondrous Love,' 'Hebrew Children,' 'Solemn Thought,' 'Rock of Ages,' 'Cheerful,' 'War Department,' Condescension,' 'Holy Manna,' 'Bozrah,' 'The Mouldering Vine,' 'Mear,' 'Leander,' 'Sardina,' 'Windham,' 'Distress,' 'Nashville, 'Turtle Dove,' 'Primrose' and 'Social Band.' An intriguing choral piece, with orchestral use of voices, that goes off into surprising, theatrical melodic directions.

These analog recordings were made in San Marco in Venice in the spring of 1967, and were legendary in their time. They introduced a large public to the great Renaissance master, in stunning sound. The digital remastering makes them even more spectacular sounding than their original LP release, revealing the rich acoustic in which they were recorded, which was the space for which this music was originally composed.